Autistic Type Disorders in Rett Syndrome & Other Conditions.


Autistic Type Disorders in Rett Syndrome & Other Conditions.

Autism and Rett Syndrome have some factors in common but are distinct disorders from one another.
Often children with Rett Syndrome show autistic traits but there is always other issues present, (or on their way), sadly. It would be extremely rare for a mecp2 error to cause an autistic disorder entirely on its own. In this case it isn’t Rett Syndrome, rather a Rett disorder.

Rett Syndrome is many issues combined and each person with Rett Syndrome presents their own unique pattern of these issues.
Autism looks like Autism, largely because it affects the young developing child. Autism would look completely different if it took effect upon a person who had already developed normally into adulthood. The same can be said for Rett Syndrome and certain other disorders.
The child’s experience, for example, with cognitive impairment. It is affecting their ability to learn and understand, they cannot explain what is wrong, they do not know what’s wrong, cannot evaluate it and nor can it be explained to them. It is awfully frightening, and often various behaviours start to occur.

When we see autistic traits in children with differing disorders, it is in part the child’s response to the affects their specific condition is having.
By Fiona MacLeod ©
To be continued…